The GCC region is making big changes to immigration rules in 2025. This includes countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait. These updates help attract talent, boost tourism, and make business easier. For companies, this means new ways to hire workers, bring in experts, and grow. But you must follow the rules to avoid fines or delays. We will explain the key changes in simple terms. We use info from recent reports as of October 2025. If you run a business in the GCC, Gulf Core Services can help with visas and setup.
What is the GCC Unified Tourist Visa?
A big new change is the GCC Grand Tourist Visa. It starts a pilot in the last quarter of 2025. It works like Schengen in Europe. You are eligible for one visa to visit all six GCC countries: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. This visa allows you to stay for up to 30 days or more, in some cases.
Why It Matters for Businesses
- Easier travel for meetings or events across countries.
- More tourists mean more sales for hotels, shops, and services.
- But it’s mainly for tourists. Business trips may still need work visas.
This change can help companies with teams in different GCC spots.
Key Changes in UAE Immigration
UAE has new visa rules from September 2025. They add four new types to attract special people.
New Visa Types
- Humanitarian Visa: One-year permit for aid workers or volunteers.
- Business Exploration Visa: For people looking to start a company.
- AI Specialist Visa: For experts in tech like AI.
- Event, Entertainment, and Cruise Tourism Visas: For short stays in these fields.
Also, truck drivers get more straightforward rules, and residents away for over six months can get a re-entry permit.
Impact on Businesses
- Easier to bring in tech talent for projects.
- Helps tourism and event companies hire fast.
- Companies must check new rules for sponsors.
UAE wants to be a hub for smart workers.
Updates in Saudi Arabia Immigration
Saudi Arabia has changes for workers and visitors in 2025. Vision 2030 aims to increase the number of locals in jobs, while also welcoming foreigners.
Main Changes
- Umrah Visa: Now, any valid visa holder can do Umrah. Pilgrims must enter by April 13, 2025, and leave by April 29, 2025.
- Work Permit Classification: New system from July 2025. It ranks foreign workers as strategic or basic. This affects hires and renewals.
- Absent Workers: Expats get 60 days to fix status or face issues.
- Premium Residency: Easier paths for long-term stays, with no sponsor needed.
- Short-Term Visa Pause: Stopped for 14 countries until April 2025.
Impact on Businesses
- Companies must classify workers’ rights to avoid fines.
- Good for keeping talent with premium options.
- More focus on hiring Saudis for some jobs.
Saudi aims for a mix of local and global skills.
Changes in Qatar Immigration
Qatar has updates to make it easy for talent and businesses.
Key Updates
- Mustaqel Residence Visa: New five-year visa for foreign experts and business owners.
- Business Visa: On arrival for 72 hours for investors.
- Exit Permits: Changes to make it simpler for workers to leave.
Impact on Businesses
- Attracts entrepreneurs with long stays.
- Quick visits help deals and meetings.
- Less paperwork for employee moves.
Qatar focuses on the knowledge economy.
Reforms in Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait
These countries have smaller but key changes.
Oman
- Nationality Reforms: From February 2025, it will be easier for foreigners to get Omani nationality after a long stay or marriage.
Bahrain
- Part of the unified visa, no big solo changes noted.
Kuwait
- Visa-on-Arrival: Now for all GCC expats, 90 days stay.
- E-Visa Platform: New online system for tourist, family, and business visas from July 2025.
Impact on Businesses
- Oman: Helps keep long-term staff.
- Kuwait: Easier for GCC-based teams to visit.
- All gain from unified visa for regional work.
How These Changes Affect Businesses
Immigration rules impact hiring, costs, and growth.
- Pros: Easier to get talent in tech, AI, and tourism. Unified visa cuts travel hassles.
- Cons: More checks for compliance, like worker classification in Saudi. Localization pushes mean hiring more locals.
- Risks: Fines for wrong visas. In M&A, check immigration status to avoid issues.
Businesses should plan for these to stay ahead.
Summary Table of Key Changes
Here is a table with the main updates by country.
| Country | Key Change | Who It Helps | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | New visas for AI, business, humanitarian | Tech firms, tourists | September 2025 |
| Saudi Arabia | Worker classification, premium residency | All businesses | July 2025 |
| Qatar | 5-year Mustaqel visa, easy exits | Entrepreneurs | 2025 |
| Oman | Easier nationality | Long-term expats | February 2025 |
| Bahrain | Unified visa participation | Regional travel | Q4 2025 |
| Kuwait | Visa-on-arrival for GCC expats | Cross-border teams | August 2025 |
| All GCC | Unified tourist visa pilot | Tourism businesses | Q4 2025 |
Tips for Businesses in 2025
- Check updates often. Rules can change fast.
- Use experts for visa applications to avoid mistakes.
- Train HR on new rules for compliance.
- Plan hires early, especially for special visas.
- For GCC-wide work, use the unified visa when ready.
Stay informed to grow smooth.
Final Thoughts
GCC immigration changes in 2025 make the region more open for business and talent. From unified visas to AI specialist permits, it’s a good time to expand. But know the rules to avoid problems. Gulf Core Services assists UAE businesses with visas, compliance, and additional services. Contact us for free advice. Start your GCC journey today!
